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This chapter explores the International Geophysical Year (IGY) as a landmark moment in the history of geophysical sciences, examining its origins, execution, and lasting impact through the lens of existing scholarship. Initiated in the early 1950s, the IGY harnessed new technologies and geopolitical conditions to coordinate an unprecedented international scientific effort. Spanning from July 1957 to December 1958 and 67 nations, the IGY served as both a product of and response to the Cold War, while simultaneously intersecting with accelerating global decolonization movements. The chapter traces how participating nations used the IGY to assert scientific credibility, national legitimacy, and geopolitical relevance. By synthesizing themes from the existing scholarship, particularly the histories of geophysics, Cold War science, scientific internationalism, and decolonization, this chapter positions the IGY as a foundational event in modern global science.

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Historiography of the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958)

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  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Daniella McCahey

摘要

This chapter explores the International Geophysical Year (IGY) as a landmark moment in the history of geophysical sciences, examining its origins, execution, and lasting impact through the lens of existing scholarship. Initiated in the early 1950s, the IGY harnessed new technologies and geopolitical conditions to coordinate an unprecedented international scientific effort. Spanning from July 1957 to December 1958 and 67 nations, the IGY served as both a product of and response to the Cold War, while simultaneously intersecting with accelerating global decolonization movements. The chapter traces how participating nations used the IGY to assert scientific credibility, national legitimacy, and geopolitical relevance. By synthesizing themes from the existing scholarship, particularly the histories of geophysics, Cold War science, scientific internationalism, and decolonization, this chapter positions the IGY as a foundational event in modern global science.